-
Tech NewsDeals: $150 Chromebook, Logitech Gear, Gunnars, Fandango Voucher
With excellent battery life, and the performance offered by a legitimate Intel chip, the Acer C720 is one of the best Chromebooks you can buy. If you’ve been on the fence, Acer is selling refurbs through Amazon today for just $150. Just today, Google announced that it’s bringing Android apps to Chromebooks, so this just … Continued
-
Tech News
This Nifty Tool Turns Google Street View Into a Graffiti Time Machine
Graffiti may be ephemeral, but then there’s Google Street View with its all-seeing camera. Inspired by Google’s recent to move to let users go back in time in Street View, Brian Foo at the New York Public Library Labs thought he could make us look at street graffiti from a new perspective—through time. Here’s the … Continued
By Sarah Zhang -
io9
One of Russia’s Last Remaining Early-Warning Satellites Just Died
The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that its only geostationary early-warning satellite — the Cosmos-2479, launched two years ago — is no longer functioning. With just two other observation satellites left in orbit, the chances of a false-alarm nuclear attack just escalated. An incident that occurred 20 years ago helps illustrate why this news … Continued
By Mark Strauss -
Tech NewsSploidThe only known white humpback whale in the world resurfaces
Migaloo—the only known albino humpback whale—has just resurfaced off the coast of Sydney, Australia. He was first spotted in 1991. It’s an amazing animal, says Oskar Peterson, of the White Whale Research Centre: He’s been around for quite a while and he cruises up and down the east coast of Australia every year, but some … Continued
By Jesus Diaz -
io9TelevisionProject Greenlight Is Back, But Only For Directors?
We loved Project Greenlight, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s reality TV show centered around discovering new movie-making talent and then greenlighting a project around their new finds—all the while, filming the many disasters that inevitably follow any film production. And now it’s back, but with one disappointing twist. So it turns out new screenwriters need … Continued
-
io9Movies
Somehow That Episode VII Table Read Photo Is Even Better In Lego Form
It does what it say on the tin, folks — Lego tweeted a recreation of the original Star Wars: Episode VII table read photo, except everyone has been replaced by their brick figure dopplegangers. It’s simple, but still fantastic. Check out the original and compare!
By Rob Bricken -
Tech News
10 Stunning Shots Of The Solstice
It’s the longest day of the year and the start of vacations, lemonade, and bee stings. It’s the summer solstice. Here are 10 stunning shots of our sun, by you. Winner: Long Engagement I liked the idea of using this public art piece and the sun to make it look like the diamond was glowing. … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
io9
The Victorians Used To Use Uranium To Make Glowing Glassware
We love artwork made with innovative materials — but sometimes, it can go too far. This Victorian-era glassware, made with uranium to make it glow, is definitely in that category. Today, the glow of uranium glass, which you can still find in antique collections around the country, is mostly observed under a blacklight. In the … Continued
By Ria Misra -
Tech News
Google Wants to Keep Track of Your Vitals with Google Fit
Going head-to-head with Apple’s newly announced HealthKit, Google has just revealed Google Fit, a fitness tracking service service to call its very own. Google Fit’s open APIs allow any connected apps and devices to seamlessly share data, all of which gets sucked up by Google Fit. Fit is supposed to make it easier for you … Continued
-
io9Why Believing In Astrology Is Not As Harmless As You Think
People who diligently follow their horoscopes may claim that it’s all just good fun. But on closer examination, this claim falls flat. Here’s why astrology is potentially damaging to our understanding of science, relationships — and even our place in the universe itself. Astrology, though discredited for centuries, still remains wildly popular. Scarcely does a … Continued
-
Tech News
A Refurbished Bus Will Bring Showers to the Homeless in San Francisco
An old MUNI bus in San Francisco is getting a second life with a noble cause. Outfitted with toilets and showers, Lava Mae‘s refurbished bus will bring mobile bathrooms to homeless people around the city. The long-awaited bus will make its first rounds this weekend. Homelessness in San Francisco is famously (and infamously) a growing … Continued
By Sarah Zhang -
io9
Behold Tom Hardy’s Codpiece and Charlize Theron’s Robot Arm In Mad Max
Here is the first “official” look at Mad Max: Fury Road. We’re not saying Tom Hardy’s pants appear to have a penis stitched across the crotch, but Tom Hardy’s pants totally have a penis sewn into the crotch. Thanks to Entertainment Weekly‘s Apocalypse Issue, we now have a good look at the two main characters … Continued
-
Tech News
Google Is Going to Bring Android Apps to Chrome(books)
With the upcoming L release of Android, Chromebooks are going to gain the superpower of being able to run (some) Android apps! Google is trying to be cautious about not just slapping Android apps onto a device with a mouse and keyboard with no modification, so it’s not like every Android app is immediately there, … Continued
By Eric Limer -
Tech News
Chromecast Is Getting a Slew of Awesome New Features
Google has just revealed that its popular Chromecast dongle will soon receive a sizable feature boost. What’s more, the streaming device will also receive a personalized user home screen. Here’s what’s in store for your living room. Chromecast has grown rapidly since its debut last year. Its content partners have grown from just five initially … Continued
-
io9
The Flawed Experiment That “Proved” Stress Is Good For You
The Yerkes-Dodson Law predicts how people react to stress. It’s also one of the most contested — and skewed — laws in psychology. Find out about the 1908 experiment that shocked lab mice, and then the world. In that order. The Yerkes-Dodson Experiment I remember, back in health class, hearing that, while a too much … Continued
-
Tech News
Google’s Getting Its Own Android-Powered Game Consoles
Forget the Ouya, there’s another Android game console in town, and it’s coming from two of the biggest players in computing. Razer, the folks behind the awesome Razer Blade and Junglecat controller, have teamed up with Google to create a “micro-console” that will run the new AndroidTV. It’ll work as a set-top box for TV … Continued
By Eric Limer -
io9
Comic Book Artist Neal Adams Is Here To Answer Your Questions!
Comic book artist Neal Adams is here to answer your questions! Ask him about his work on X-Men, the Green Lantern… and transforming Batman into the Dark Knight that we know today. Adams has been responsible for drawing some of the most iconic comic book superheroes including the X-Men, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Deadman and, … Continued
By Ria Misra -
Tech News
Android TV: Google’s Bajillionth Attempt to Take Over Your Living Room
Meet AndroidTV: a new TV platform, like the failed Google TV. It’s a brand new UI but it’s the same SDK as regular Android. Here’s what’s up: Android TV is a UI that gives you a unified view of your channels. It’s a “lean-back” approach to watching TV, says Google. Part of what that means … Continued
By Leslie Horn -
Tech NewsSploid
I want to go around the world in this awesome hydrofoil clipper
Diego González’s Birostis is a clipper that uses a hydrofoil hull and can be propelled by sails but also by two front kites (which are out the shot.) According to Diego, “the idea of this design come from the novel Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.” Diego González Cortes is an Spanish concept designer based in … Continued
By Jesus Diaz -
io9
12 Low-Budget Robot Movies That Are Better Than Transformers
This weekend, we’ll all be watching giant robots turn into trucks and dinosaurs, and it’ll be like fireworks for your brain. But robots can do more than just throw down — they can make us question the nature of existence. Here are 12 mindblowing indie movies about robots that you could watch instead of Transformers. … Continued